`We have discovered that we are poor, but also that we won't get anywhere on our own.'
Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, outlining his `strategic alliance' scheme to the Argentine congress.
`The US and our neighbours are worried that there might appear [in Bolivia] a narco-terrorist state.'
Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, President of Bolivia, the day before he was persuaded to resign.
`In the next congress we are going to have more former military men than ever. They come from the ranks, from the parties of the landowners and the Bourgeoisie.'
Tom Koenigs, head of Minugua, the UN verification mission in Guatemala.
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In this report we
look at the political problems confronting the government. It has decided
to push for a reform in the electricity industry, but it is far from clear
that congress will support it. The biggest party in congress, the PRI,
has a powerful nationalist wing which does not want to see any changes
to the state-dominated electricity industry. Low politics also come into
the PRI's calculations. It wants Fox and his government to pay a political
price for their temerity in depriving the PRI of the presidency in 2000.
We also look at the increasingly troubled state of the economy and analyse
its vulnerability to falling oil prices.
End of preview - This article contains approximately 432 words.
